Apparatus for holding and arranging threads in surgical operations

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for holding and arranging threads in surgical operations with a flexible structure being in a ring form, connecting straight linear forms or divided linear forms, with flexible metal inserted within foaming material. V shape ditches are cut on the upper portion, and the base has adhesiveness. Affordable and simple manufacturing method is established with extrusion molding process or heat press molding process, after which extrusion cut process is conducted with the mold. Labor within hospitals can be reduced, by providing an affordable apparatus which prevents the threads from being damaged, also solving the concern of tissue damage due to thread tension, as the threads are accurately held and arranged without any mixing up with neighboring threads, and the apparatus size, the fixing position of the apparatus, and the operating tissue area can be adjusted at the surgeon&#39;s will.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to apparatus for temporarily holding and arranging surgical threads utilized during surgical operations.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Conventionally, the end of a thread is either directly held with non-hook forceps such as Péan's forceps or mosquito forceps, or by holding the thread after placing short cut pieces of rubber tubes such as Nelaton on the tip of forceps to protect the thread.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The grasp part at the end of forceps has horizontal ditches to hold and grasp the tissue to facilitate the grasping, as grasping is the forceps' primary function. When a surgeon tries to hold a piece of thread with such forceps, the thread surface is damaged, the tension of the thread is reduced significantly and therefore such a practice is not preferred. When applying rubber tubes such as Nelaton on the tip of forceps, the thread surface is protected, but that would increase the labor of hand-washing nurses. In operations for heart valve substitution and such, 12 to 20 pieces of threads are utilized for stitching the valve rim. In operations for substitution of mitralis valve or aorta valve in one operation, a maximum of 40 pieces of threads are utilized. In such a case, 40 forceps are to be prepared, the used forceps need to be washed and re-sterilized for the next operation. As the tip of the forceps are divided in two, 80 rubber tubes needs to be prepared in such cases. In an economical environment where hospital management is in a severe situation, it is preferable to minimize the volume of materials and labor required.

[0006] Also when fixing an end of a thread with forceps, the weight of the forceps loads on the thread, and the thread pulls the stitched tissue. Some tension on thread is required to prevent each thread from mixing up with each other, but as the stitched part is often a diseased and frail tissue, there are possibilities for the stitched tissue to be torn from the thread tension. Furthermore, many forceps hang at the edge part of operating tissue area, which is an obstacle for the operation. When the order of forceps change, neighboring threads may be mixed up.

[0007] To solve the above problems, this invention provides apparatus for holding and arranging threads in surgical operations, the apparatus being in a ring form to prevent disturbing the operating tissue area, the upper portion of the main part of the ring form being narrowed at the top in a tapered form with pairs of cuts made continuously in vertical angle in relation to the ring to hold and maintain the thread, a V shape ditch is applied at the top part of each cut, the lower portion of the main part having a hole for cloth forceps to fix this apparatus on a covering sheet.

[0008] Manufacture, sterilization, packaging, and storage of ring shape apparatuses require a large cubic volume, and could be inconvenient. The ring shape can be realized by connecting main parts made in straight linear forms, a linear form having projections and holes at each end, enabling a structure to adjust and change the ring circumference by connecting and disconnecting the projections and holes, thus a shipment package can be in a compact rectangular form rather than a large square, reducing the whole cubic volume, making it possible to reduce the manufacturing and distribution cost. This invention is useful in valve substitution operations in cardiac surgeries or in septum deficient repair operations in pediatric cardiac surgeries, wherein the body size of patients vary largely, and in such a situation, when the shape of this apparatus is fixed in a ring shape, many items of products in a various types and sizes will be necessary as the product standard. When the apparatus is made in a straight linear shape enabling connection to make a ring form, the product can be standardized as one item, largely contributing to cost reduction.

[0009] Furthermore, by manufacturing this apparatus with extrusion molding method, wherein the material is extruded, cut in determined size, cut from the side with the extrusion mold to simultaneously cut out the V shape ditch and the hole for the cloth forceps, affordable products can be provided.

[0010] When flexible metal such as wire or aluminum is inserted inside the straight linear form main part material, the apparatus can flexibly be adjusted to the shape and size of the operating tissue area, and standardization of the product can be conducted with one product item, which would largely contribute to cost reduction.

[0011] Foaming material, specifically acrylic foam is utilized as the material. The surface of this material has individual cell air bubble structure, having suction effect with appropriate adhesiveness. This material can be fixed by adhering onto heart opening instruments and such. This material has higher adhesiveness compared to other adhesives such as dual-face tapes, and has no stickiness, and is easier to peel off.

[0012] Furthermore, by manufacturing this apparatus with a process of having flexible metal such as wire or aluminum inserted between two plates of molded foaming material, heat and pressure applied to the outside of the foaming material mold, and cuts made from the side with the extrusion mold to simultaneously cut out the V shape ditch and the hole for the cloth forceps, affordable products can be provided.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Hereafter, a description of the preferred embodiments of this invention is made in reference to drawings. FIG. 1 shows a ring shape apparatus for holding and arranging threads in surgical operations claimed in claim 1. The upper portion 2 of the main part of the ring form being narrowed at the top in a tapered form with pairs of cuts made continuously in vertical angle in relation to the ring shown as cut 3 to hold and maintain the thread, V shape ditch 4 applied at the top part of each cut, the lower portion of the main part having a hole 5 for cloth forceps to fix this apparatus on a covering sheet. The manufacturing method for this apparatus is extrusion molding method as described in claim 3, extruding flexible material such as vinyl chloride or polyethylene foam which does not damage the thread surface, and then cut in determined size. Cut 3, V shape ditch 4, hole 5 for cloth forceps are extruded and cut with the mold, the main part being in a straight linear form. When cut 3 is made in pairs, it is very convenient for the surgeon to prevent mixing up of neighboring threads when different color threads such as white and blue are used alternately.

[0014]FIG. 2 shows an apparatus for holding and arranging threads in surgical operations claimed in claim 2 and 3, wherein the main part 1 is in a straight linear form, realizing a ring form by connecting the linear main parts, the main part having projections and holes at each end, enabling a structure to adjust and change the ring circumference by connecting and disconnecting the projections and holes. One end of the main part has projection 6, and the other end has hole 7 to insert into the projection. When both ends are connected to each other, a small ring form is realized, and when many main parts are connected, a larger ring can be formed. Furthermore, by connecting and disconnecting the projections and holes, the circumference can be continuously varied. As projection 6 and hole 7 are in the same size, the center part cut out in a pipe form can be moved, adhered and fixed to be processed into this form.

[0015]FIG. 3 shows an apparatus for holding and arranging threads in surgical operations as claimed in claim 4, 5 and 6, which are divided and in a straight linear form. The upper portion of the main part being narrowed at the top in a tapered form with cut 3 in pairs of cuts made continuously to hold and maintain the thread, and a V shape ditch is applied at the top part of each cut. The material of the main part is a foaming material specifically being acrylic foam, and the main part can be fixed on the surface of a heart opening instrument by adhering the back side 9 on top of the heart opening instrument. Aluminum plate is inserted between two plates of acrylic foam material, molded after applying heat and pressure on the external mold of the acrylic foam, then cuts are applied from the side with the mold to make the V shape ditch. When cut 1 is made in pairs, it is convenient to prevent mixing up of neighboring threads when different colored threads such as white and blue are utilized alternately. The V shape ditch guides the thread into cut 1 accurately.

[0016]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional diagram of an apparatus for holding and arranging threads in surgical operations as claimed in claim 4, 5, and 6, an apparatus in which flexible metal such as aluminum plates are enfolded within foaming material. This apparatus enables the surgeon to bend the apparatus in a desired curve.

[0017] This invention has the following effects, conducted as in the above description.

[0018] This invention reduces labor in hospitals, by providing an affordable apparatus for holding surgical threads precisely without damaging the thread, and without any concern of tissue damage due to thread tension.

[0019] The ring form does not disturb the operating tissue area. When the cuts are in pairs, it is convenient in preventing mixing up of neighboring threads when using different colored thread such as white and blue used alternately.

[0020] Manufacture, sterilization, packaging, and storage of ring shape apparatuses require a large cubic volume, and could be inconvenient. The ring shape can be realized by connecting main parts made in straight linear form, the linear form having projections and holes at each end, enabling a structure to adjust and change the ring circumference by connecting and disconnecting the projections and holes, thus the package can be in a compact rectangular form rather than a large square, reducing the whole cubic volume, making it possible to reduce the manufacturing and distribution cost. Also, this apparatus is useful in valve substitution operations in cardiac surgeries or in septum deficient repair operations in pediatric cardiac surgeries, wherein the body size of patients vary largely, and in such a situation, when the shape of this apparatus is fixed to a ring shape, many items of products in various types and sizes are necessary. When the apparatus is made in a straight linear shape enabling connection to make a ring form, the product can be standardized as one item, largely contributing to cost reduction.

[0021] The apparatus claimed in claim 1 and 2 can be manufactured with extrusion molding method, wherein the material is extruded, cut in determined size, cut from the side with the extrusion mold to simultaneously cut out the V shape ditch and the hole for the cloth forceps, and affordable products can be provided.

[0022] Flexible metal such as wire or aluminum is inserted inside the straight linear shape main part foaming material, the apparatus can be flexibly adjusted to the shape and size of the operating tissue area, standardization of the product can be conducted with one item of product, and would largely contribute to cost reduction.

[0023] The surface of this acrylic foaming material has individual cell air bubble structure, having suction effect with appropriate adhesiveness. This material can be fixed by adhering onto heart opening instruments and such. This material has higher adhesiveness compared to other adhesives such as dual-face tapes, and has no stickiness, and is easier to peel off.

[0024] The manufacturing method as in claim 4 and 5, provides apparatus with a process in which the form is molded by having flexible metal such as wire or aluminum inserted between two plates molded of foaming material, heat and pressure applied to the outside of the foaming material mold, and cuts from the side with the extrusion mold are made to cut out the V shape ditch and hole for the cloth forceps simultaneously, and affordable products can be provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025]FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional and external diagram of an apparatus for holding and arranging threads in surgical operations.

[0026]FIG. 2 shows external diagram of a connecting type apparatus for holding and arranging threads in surgical operations.

[0027]FIG. 3 is an external diagram of a divided type apparatus for holding and arranging threads in surgical operations.

[0028]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional and external diagram of a divided type apparatus for holding and arranging threads in surgical operations. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for holding and arranging threads in surgical operations which temporarily holds threads after the surgical thread is passed through a body tissue and then stitched onto another part of tissue or an artificial substance, and which arranges threads not to mix up with other threads, the apparatus being in a ring form not to disturb the operating tissue area, the upper portion of the ring form main part is narrowed in a tapered form, with pairs of cuts made continuously in vertical angle in relation to the ring to hold and maintain the thread, a V shape ditch is applied at the top part of each cut, the lower portion of the main part having a hole for cloth forceps to fix this apparatus on a covering sheet.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, the apparatus having the structure wherein the whole form is not in a ring form but in a divided straight linear form, connected to one another by connecting projections and holes at the end to realize the ring form, and by connecting and disconnecting the projections and holes, the ring circumference can be changed.
 3. A manufacturing method for the apparatus for holding and arranging threads in surgical operations according to claim 1 and 2, wherein material are extruded out with an extrusion molding method, and cut in determined size, then V shape ditches and a hole for cloth forceps are extruded and cut with the extrusion mold from the side.
 4. An apparatus for holding and arranging threads in surgical operations which temporarily holds threads after the surgical thread is passed through a body tissue and then stitched onto another part of tissue or an artificial substance, and which arranges threads not to mix up with other threads, the apparatus being not in a ring form, but the upper portion of the main part is narrowed in a tapered form, with pairs of cuts made continuously in a vertical angle to hold and maintain the thread, a V shape ditch applied at the top part of each cut, shaped in a divided straight linear form, with flexible metal such as wire and aluminum plate enfolded within the main part material, enabling the surgeon to bend the whole apparatus in a desired curve.
 5. An apparatus for holding and arranging threads in surgical operations as claimed in claim 4, wherein foaming material such as acrylic foam is utilized as the material, the apparatus having the means to be fixed onto heart opening instruments and such by adhering this apparatus onto the instruments.
 6. A manufacturing process of apparatus for holding and arranging threads in surgical operations as claimed in claim 4 and 5, the process in which flexible metal such as wire and aluminum are inserted between two acrylic foam plates, molded after applying heat and pressure on the outside of the foaming material, V shape ditches are cut by cutting from the side with extrusion mold. 